New Boss VE-2 Harmonist connection issue

[FMW]

Got in a brand new Boss VE-2. I can't get it to work either with my mixer or a guitar amp. The output is an XLR so I found a couple of XLR to TRS cables in the cable box and neither one works. Can it be anything other than the cable. Thanks fore any suggestion.

[The Dude]

Sure, something could be wrong with the unit. Anything is possible, but it's brand new so doubtful.
Doesn't your mixer have XLR inputs so you could just use a regular mic cord?
If you are trying to adapt a balanced XLR output to an unbalanced 1/4" input, you should NOT be using TRS cables. You need either an XLR to 1/4" (not TRS) cable correctly wired with pin 3 and 1 tied together as ground/sleeve and pin 2 hot/tip, OR an XLR to 1/4" cable (not TRS) with a transformer built in.
The other option would be to use the headphone/line out with an 1/8" to 1/4" adaptor.
These outputs will be line level and should work with a mixer designed for a line level input, but might not play well with a guitar amp since the guitar amp is made with an instrument level input and the line level output will likely be too hot unless you use an amp in or effects return jack instead of the guitar in jack.

[FMW]

The mixer has XLR mic connectors and I will try a regular mic cable but that connecgs a guitar and a mic preamp to a mic preamp on the mixer.. The guitar amp, of course, accepts only 1/4" plugs. Thanks for the advice.

[The Dude]

Doesn't the mixer have a pad or input gain adjust?